'No limits': Greens introduce bill to return vacancy control to B.C.
Vacancy control has been a contentious topic in B.C., and the B.C. Green Party has introduced a bill to bring the rent tool back to the province.
Vacancy control was dropped by the government decades ago, but the topic has been discussed on social media in recent years in response to rising rent rates.
In 2023, we asked former B.C. housing minister Ravi Kahlon his thoughts on bringing back the rental tool, and if it was a matter of concern, and the response was, “That isn’t our approach.”
A 2023 report from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation shed some light on the difference in the cost of rent between occupied units and units that were vacated, and the disparity is quite significant, which began a conversation on social media about whether B.C. should implement some form of vacancy control.
A Private Members’ Bill was introduced by the B.C. Green Party today.
“Right now, there are no limits on how much landlords can raise rent between tenancies — rent increases are only regulated within existing tenancies. If we want affordable housing fast, we need to look at the housing we already have. This bill will change that equation,” said Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, in a news release.
Basically, what that means is when someone vacates a rental unit, the landlord can increase the rent to whatever amount they want.
“Vacancy control is not a new concept in British Columbia. In the 40 years since it was removed between tenancies, the province has devolved into one of the least affordable rental markets in Canada, earning the title of Canada’s eviction capital,” he added.
Botterell pointed out that the NDP supported rent control in the past, implementing it in the Downtown Eastside.
“The Residential Tenancy Amendment Act will require vacant rental units to follow the same rules for rent increases as occupied units, stabilizing housing for renters. This bill will help mitigate evictions across the board, so landlords aren’t incentivized to evict their tenants in order to increase profit from rent,” the B.C. Green Party said in the release.
The Greens said that one in three people in B.C. is a renter, and are “a trampled afterthought in this government’s housing strategy.”
“The BC NDP is catering to corporate developers, while starving investment in the affordable, social housing that renters need,” said new B.C. Green Party leader Emily Lowan.
“This bill from my B.C. Green Caucus colleagues will help stabilize rents for British Columbian renters by blocking predatory landlords from hiking rents and evicting renters for profit.”
The Green Party added, “Research shows no correlation between vacancy control and a decline in new rental construction. Factors like taxation, interest rates, and the relative profitability of other investments play a much greater role in determining new rental supply.”
Do you support the B.C. Green Party bill to bring rent control back to the province? Tell us why you do or don’t in the comments.